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Jennifer Agiesta named AP polling director

WASHINGTON — Jennifer Agiesta, a deputy director of polling for The Associated Press, has been named the news organization's director of polling responsible for setting strategy and providing guidance on polling issues across the AP.

The appointment was announced Monday by Washington bureau chief Sally Buzbee.

"Jenn brings strong polling expertise and journalistic expertise to this vital role," Buzbee said. "We expect her to be a strong resource and mentor to help guide journalists across the company. She is, in addition, a fluid and graceful writer herself."

The AP conducts a range of public opinion polling on political and policy issues, including through the Associated Press-GfK poll in conjunction with GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications and through the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research in conjunction with NORC at the University of Chicago.

Agiesta, who has worked for AP since 2010, previously served as a polling analyst at The Washington Post, helping expand the polling operation's profile through the Behind the Numbers blog. She also managed several aspects of exit polling in 2002 and 2004 with Edison Research of Somerville, N.J., and Voter News Service of Brooklyn, N.Y., and previously worked on research for communications strategies for several private firms.

She is a native of Long Island, N.Y., and a graduate of Washington and Lee University.